What do you take on a ride?

[youngoldbloke]

re screwdriver required to adjust front + rear mech limit screws (etc), I always carry one of these of the appropriate size. Takes up no room at all:

 

[John Ponting]

As most people, never leave home without multi tool, spare tube, puncture outfit, tyre levers. Mobile, ID & money are in small wallet that lives with me however I travel.

Yesterday FAIL. Kit was in bag on back of 7.5FX in lbs at miles from home. Bag on back of 1.2 was still empty. This would not have happened if I hadn't sold the 26" Scott and made sure that both bikes were 700c.

 

[Dewi]

I take about the same as most but never ID and money only occasionally - I think it adds to the freedom of being on a ride?

The only thing I'll add that no one else has mentioned is my MP3 player - it helps the miles pass by but I only listen with one ear, the others free for traffic

 

[Roamer]

… 4 or 5 friends, a couple of gels, …

Most of that fits in a small saddle pack,

Can't be all that small a saddle pack!

 

[Paul.G.]

Over time you will develop your own list of kit to carry but from my experience I always carry the same level of emergency kit, regardless of the length of ride. This means you have less chance of forgetting anything and if your short ride turns into an epic journey, your covered. Food and drink are the only things I increase / decrease dependant on length of ride.

The only kit attached to the bike is a small saddle pack which holds two 700c tubes. The rest of my kit is carried in a soft padded computer hard drive case from PC world. Sounds a strange choice but it easily holds the items listed below including the house keys and my mobile. It's just the right size to fit into your pocket and has soft padding so will not stick into your your back. Appreciate it's not water proof but I wrap it in a strong sealable food bag. I also carry a light weight waterproof which when rolled up is no bigger than a sausage roll. Again, I always carry this regardless of how long ride is (got wet too many times)

. Compact tyre levers
. Self adhesive patch kit
. spare quick release chain link
. three AAA batteries (depends what lights you use)
. Small compact multi-tool which has all the basics including chain splitter, look for quality one as cheap ones can break!
. 6 x small cable ties
. £5 in a waterproof food bag
. Couple of pain killers - (nothing worse than getting a thumping head on long hot rides)
. Wet wipes to clean hands if you get a flat or mechanical

Hope this helps

 

[Ste T.]

Butties, and lots of'em, a'la Mrs Doyle. Hence the trailer.

 

[Vikeonabike]

A teaspoon!!!!?

 

[dellzeqq]

DZ
Decathlon tyre levers
chain tool
spare chain link
self-adhesive patches (these are great)
5 spare tubes, pre-talced
two multi-tools
pump
lock
money
debit/credit card
phone
blackberry
lipstick
tissues
cosmetics of uncertain nature and origin
a Boots bag with stuff in it

Mrs DZ
are you mad? See above.

 

[Young Howard]

Hi, take a drink, a couple of cereal bars, multi tool, tyre levers, couple of good or new spare tubes, a mobile phone and you need to know where you are if you need to call someone, so may be a map.
I carry my stuff in a bum bag (remember them) better for keys and money and I just can't do with rattling saddle bags!
I guess this is enough, though I know plenty of tourers who practically carry a whole workshop with them!

 

[Fnaar]

. Compact tyre levers
. Self adhesive patch kit
. spare quick release chain link
. three AAA batteries (depends what lights you use)
. Small compact multi-tool which has all the basics including chain splitter, look for quality one as cheap ones can break!
. 6 x small cable ties
. £5 in a waterproof food bag
. Couple of pain killers - (nothing worse than getting a thumping head on long hot rides)
. Wet wipes to clean hands if you get a flat or mechanical

More or less ditto for me, but I don't have wet wipes (just wipe hands on grass)... I have a chain splitter, but have never used it

and I don't take painkillers as a rule. AND I have the same kit ready to go on both main bikes, so I know I'm never going to forget anything.

 

[cyberknight]

 

[Russell Allen]

I find the following enough for up to 100km runs around the essex countryside.

Saddle pack containing the following

Phone
Money
Credit cards
Spare tubes x 2
Tyre Levers
CO2 inflator and/or pump
Fat Spanner Multitool
Small adjustable spanner
Spare batteries for lights
Puncture repair kit

The following in my jersey pockets

Lightweight Waterproof jacket
Energy Bars

Regards

Russell Allen

 

[mgarl10024]

IMO, the #1 thing I take on every ride, whether to the shops, off road or whatever, is written details of who I am and next of kin.

I've been thinking about this post for a few days now. It occurs to me that I don't have any easily accessible details on me, so if I was knocked down, someone would need to do a lot of digging in panniers to find any details. However, being twitchy around data security, I would feel uncomfortable having details of me so easily accessible.
The only halfway house I can think of is a name and some contact numbers perhaps taped to the inside of the pannier lid.
Is this what you do, and what details do you carry?

 

[simon_adams_uk]

Don't forget your 2x1ft sheet of bubble wrap if mountain biking - down the back of your outer top if it's warmish, down the front of your jersey if it's cold and windy, and you sit on it when you're having a stop/fixing a puncture. Makes a fun noise as well!

 

[Reiki_chick]

I've been thinking about this post for a few days now. It occurs to me that I don't have any easily accessible details on me, so if I was knocked down, someone would need to do a lot of digging in panniers to find any details. However, being twitchy around data security, I would feel uncomfortable having details of me so easily accessible.
The only halfway house I can think of is a name and some contact numbers perhaps taped to the inside of the pannier lid.
Is this what you do, and what details do you carry?

One handy option is using ICE numbers on your mobile phone. Rename a few important numbers so that the name is ICE (In Case of Emergency) + the persons relationship to you + their name.
ICE Partner Lara
ICE Brother Crofter
ICE Friend Marky

This way if other people need to call people for you, they know who to call, and they know who they're calling.
I quite like this. Feels kinda OK.